Post by gatlinggun on Dec 7, 2018 19:26:32 GMT -6
For years I've heard people say that "Custer left his Gatlings behind" and numerous variations on that theme.
But did he really?
First a little about the Gatling gun.
The first Gatlings were produced in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1862 by the Eagle Iron Works. They, along with the factory, were destroyed by fire. The next batch were produced, in 1862, by the Cincinnati Type Foundry. Fast forward a couple of years to 1866. Gatling moved production to Cooper Firearms in Philadelphia in 1866, then moved production again, in 1866, to Colt's. US production of the Gatling gun was by Colt's until the end in 1903.
The improved Model 1866 Gatlings (by Colt's) were produced in .50-70 and 1 inch caliber. The .50-70 caliber guns weighed 224 lbs and the 1 inch Gatling weighed a whopping 1008 lbs. Both were mounted on modified CW artillery carriages with elevation only. Most of the improved 1866 Gatlings featured six barrels.
In 1871 the Gatling underwent some development and further improvements. It was still chambered for .50-70 and featured ten barrels.
In 1874, the first of the "classic old west Gatlings" were produced. The Model 1874 introduced the .45-70 chambering and really solidified what the Gatling was, although the gun would continue to be "improved" throughout its production run. The Model 1875 featured slight improvements over the 1874. Both models were produced in two flavors, the "musket length" with 32 inch barrels and the Camel gun with 18 inch barrels. The Camel gun was only produced in 1874 (56 total) and 1875 (4 total). The weight of the musket length gun was 198 lbs and the Camel gun was 135 lbs. Both models featured an "oscillator mechanism" that allowed the gun to be fired with no traverse or would traverse the gun several degrees side to side as the gun was cranked.
Both types of guns were mounted on purpose built field carriages. The Camel gun was mounted on a light carriage called a "cavalry cart" (hmmm).
In this discussion, it is the Model 1866, 1874, and 1875 we are most concerned with.
In his fascinating book, Sioux War Dispatches, Reports from the Field, 1876-1877, Marc Abrams notes Gatling guns in three different places. The first is when the Dakota column departs Ft. Abraham Lincoln in May. Three Gatlings were with the column and they were manned by crews from the 20th Infantry.
The second mention in the book is on June 24th, where Gibbon's command have the guns.
The third mention is on August 7th, when Terry's and Gibbon's columns were united. The Gatlings were left behind to help defend a newly constructed supply depot, christened "Ft. Beans"!
In Douglas McChristian's book The US Army in the West 1870-1880, Uniforms, Weapons, and Equipment, on Pg 153, there is a photo of some of the 20th Infantry guys with a Model 1866 1 inch caliber Gatling. In the caption McChristian notes the variations in insignia, uniforms, and gear but also notes that the photo was taken at Ft. McKean prior to the start of the 1876 Sioux campaign.
In the background of the picture, one can see the fort and the limbers for the guns. To me this picture speaks volumes. Its no wonder the Gatlings were relegated to defending supply depots! They were basically multi-barreled artillery and not useful for much else.
Now however, the "musket caliber" (.45-70) Gatlings were an entirely different animal. While they were limited in their field of fire due to the carriage, they were capable of GREAT execution. However, the military thinking of the day limited their effectiveness until a young lieutenant named Parker came along. But that is a story for another time.
It is interesting to me that the Terry column was not equipped with Camel guns on cavalry carts. With this setup the Gatlings were far more mobile and could have done great service.
Now for the questions and observations.
Is there any record that Gen. Terry offered Custer the Gatlings? If the guns with Terry's column were indeed the 1 inch caliber Model 1866 AND Terry did indeed offer them to Custer, then Custer was correct in refusing them.
If Terry didn't offer them to Custer, they weren't Custer's to "leave behind".
Are there other mentions of Gatlings with Terry's column I don't know about?
Sorry for the long-winded post, but I'm passionate about Gatlings and their use.
Barry
But did he really?
First a little about the Gatling gun.
The first Gatlings were produced in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1862 by the Eagle Iron Works. They, along with the factory, were destroyed by fire. The next batch were produced, in 1862, by the Cincinnati Type Foundry. Fast forward a couple of years to 1866. Gatling moved production to Cooper Firearms in Philadelphia in 1866, then moved production again, in 1866, to Colt's. US production of the Gatling gun was by Colt's until the end in 1903.
The improved Model 1866 Gatlings (by Colt's) were produced in .50-70 and 1 inch caliber. The .50-70 caliber guns weighed 224 lbs and the 1 inch Gatling weighed a whopping 1008 lbs. Both were mounted on modified CW artillery carriages with elevation only. Most of the improved 1866 Gatlings featured six barrels.
In 1871 the Gatling underwent some development and further improvements. It was still chambered for .50-70 and featured ten barrels.
In 1874, the first of the "classic old west Gatlings" were produced. The Model 1874 introduced the .45-70 chambering and really solidified what the Gatling was, although the gun would continue to be "improved" throughout its production run. The Model 1875 featured slight improvements over the 1874. Both models were produced in two flavors, the "musket length" with 32 inch barrels and the Camel gun with 18 inch barrels. The Camel gun was only produced in 1874 (56 total) and 1875 (4 total). The weight of the musket length gun was 198 lbs and the Camel gun was 135 lbs. Both models featured an "oscillator mechanism" that allowed the gun to be fired with no traverse or would traverse the gun several degrees side to side as the gun was cranked.
Both types of guns were mounted on purpose built field carriages. The Camel gun was mounted on a light carriage called a "cavalry cart" (hmmm).
In this discussion, it is the Model 1866, 1874, and 1875 we are most concerned with.
In his fascinating book, Sioux War Dispatches, Reports from the Field, 1876-1877, Marc Abrams notes Gatling guns in three different places. The first is when the Dakota column departs Ft. Abraham Lincoln in May. Three Gatlings were with the column and they were manned by crews from the 20th Infantry.
The second mention in the book is on June 24th, where Gibbon's command have the guns.
The third mention is on August 7th, when Terry's and Gibbon's columns were united. The Gatlings were left behind to help defend a newly constructed supply depot, christened "Ft. Beans"!
In Douglas McChristian's book The US Army in the West 1870-1880, Uniforms, Weapons, and Equipment, on Pg 153, there is a photo of some of the 20th Infantry guys with a Model 1866 1 inch caliber Gatling. In the caption McChristian notes the variations in insignia, uniforms, and gear but also notes that the photo was taken at Ft. McKean prior to the start of the 1876 Sioux campaign.
In the background of the picture, one can see the fort and the limbers for the guns. To me this picture speaks volumes. Its no wonder the Gatlings were relegated to defending supply depots! They were basically multi-barreled artillery and not useful for much else.
Now however, the "musket caliber" (.45-70) Gatlings were an entirely different animal. While they were limited in their field of fire due to the carriage, they were capable of GREAT execution. However, the military thinking of the day limited their effectiveness until a young lieutenant named Parker came along. But that is a story for another time.
It is interesting to me that the Terry column was not equipped with Camel guns on cavalry carts. With this setup the Gatlings were far more mobile and could have done great service.
Now for the questions and observations.
Is there any record that Gen. Terry offered Custer the Gatlings? If the guns with Terry's column were indeed the 1 inch caliber Model 1866 AND Terry did indeed offer them to Custer, then Custer was correct in refusing them.
If Terry didn't offer them to Custer, they weren't Custer's to "leave behind".
Are there other mentions of Gatlings with Terry's column I don't know about?
Sorry for the long-winded post, but I'm passionate about Gatlings and their use.
Barry